WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Tuesday, June 18, Deputy Secretary of the Interior David J. Hayes will hold a news media teleconference to discuss the next phase of the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations (Buy-Back Program), including launching pilot efforts to establish cooperative agreements with Tribal governments. Hayes will be joined by Assistant Secretary-Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn.
The Buy-Back Program implements the land consolidation provisions of the Cobell Settlement, which provides for a $1.9 billion Trust Land Consolidation Fund to consolidate fractional land interests across Indian Country. Allotments of land provided individual American Indians in the 19th and early 20th centuries now have hundreds and even thousands of individual owners, making it difficult to lease or develop the parcels. As a result, highly-fractionated allotments lie idle, unable to be used for any economically beneficial purpose.
| WHO: |
Deputy Secretary of Interior David J. Hayes Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Kevin Washburn |
| WHAT: |
News media teleconference concerning the Land Buy-Back Program for Tribal Nations |
| WHEN: |
Tuesday, June 18, 2013, 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time |
| MEDIA: |
Credentialed members of the media can participate in the teleconference by calling 1- 888-949-2793 and entering the passcode INTERIOR. |
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